Ordnance



E. A. MUIR, DECD 0. K. mum. ADMINISTRATRIX.

ORDNANCE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1, 1919.

Patented July 13, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Even 1%?" 3y Eduard/1 joraff. Muir fimnwsmmmx E. A. MUIR, DECD. 0. K.mum. ADMINISTRATRIX.

ORDNANCE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. I. 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented July 13, 1920.

Ec/Lu ff Muir ADMIIIHSTRATRIX f r'I le UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD A. MUIR, DECEASED, LATE OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, BYDORA K. MUIR, ADMINISTRATRIX, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,.ASSIGNOR TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

ORDNANCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 13, 1920.

Application filed February 1, 1919. Serial No. 274,830.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that EDWARD A. MUIR, late a citizen of the United States andresident of lVashington, District of Columbia, did invent new and usefulImprovements in Ordnance, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to gun mounts and has particular reference tomounts of the socalled twin type in which two guns are mounted in asingle carriage.

The present invention has as its purpose to provide a mount of the twintype in which the relative angles between the two guns may be varied atwill so as to obtain the desired dispersion of fire thus providing amount which is of particular advantage in torpedo boat and aeroplanedefense.

In accordance with the present invention, the arrangement is such thatthe alinement of one gun in elevation and azimuth with respect to theother gun may be altered through a very small angle. By changingslightly'the relation between the elevations of the two guns, the dangerspace for the guns in a battery may be varied at will, and by slightlychanging the relation between the train of the two guns a lateraldispersion is obtained.

Further objects of. the invention are to provide a gun mount which isrelatively simple in construction, reliable and eflicient in action, andwhich is capable of being readily adjusted to meet various conditions.

This invention accordingly consists in certain novel features ofconstruction and combination of parts, and in the unique relation of themembers and the relative proportioning and distribution thereof.

In the accompanying drawings is shown one form of the improved mount,but it is to be understood that the present disclosure of the inventionis by way of illustration only and is not restrictive thereof, theinvention being susceptible of various modifications and changes whichwould be within the spirit of the invention without departing from thescope of the appended claims.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of so much of a gun mount as isnecessary to illustrate the application of the invention thereto.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the fixed part of the slide.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the movable part of the slide.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a bearing plate adapted to be interposedbetween the parts of slide, and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and wherein like referencecharacters indicate similar parts in the several views, 10 designatesthe cheeks of a gun carriage, the lower portion of the gun mount notbeing shown in the present illustrated disclosure, as it may be of anysuitable construction. Mounted within bearings at the upper ends of thecheeks 10 is a gun slide comprising two parts, 11 and 12. The formerpart 11 will hereinafter be referred to as the fixed part of the slide,as this part is fixed against lateral movement relative to the carriage,although its elevation may be varied, and the part 12 will be referredto as the movable part, as its azimuth or train relative to the cheeksof the carriage and the fixed part of the slide may be changed. Each ofthe parts 11 and 12 has a through opening 13 for guns 14 and a pair ofopenings for the reception of recoil mechanism 15.

The fixed part 11 of the gun slide has a trunnion 16 rotatably mountedin the hearing 17 in one of the cheeks 10 and this bearing may besimilar to that. now usually employed to receive the trunnions of gunslides. The inner face of the fixed part 11 of the slide is providedwith a longitudinal groove 18 which receives a bearing plate 19, mostclearly shown in Fig. 6. The bearing plate 19 has on its upper and loweredges and between its ends and preferably nearer the forward end thanthe rear end, alined circular enlargements 20. The plate 19 tapers fromthese enlargements toward its opposite ends so as to provide suilicientclearance between the ends of the plate and the parts of the slide topermit the gun carried by the movable part 12 to be swung laterallythrough a small angle relative to the gun in the fixed part 11. Theplate 19 is pivoted in the recess 18 by means of pintles 21 which passthrough vertical openings in the ribs 22 at the top and bottom of thegroove 18. The

pintles 21 enter alined recesses or bearings 23 located centrally of theenlargements 20.

The movable part 12 of the slide has a trunnion 21 on its inner face.which is received by a bearing opening 25 in the plate 19, the center ofthis opening being in alinement with the recesses 23. An outer trunnion26 of the movable part 12 is received by a bearing block 27 adjustablymounted in a rectangular recess 28 in one of the cheeks 10 of thecarriage. The forward and rear edges of this bearing block, as mostclearly shown in Fig. 1, are inclined upwardly toward ach other, so thatthe block is of wedge shape, and between these inclined edges and thesides of the recess 28 are oppositely disposed wedges 29. For thepurpose of raising and lowering the wedges 29 and thus moving the block27 forwardly or rearwardly to vary the angle in train between the guns,each of the wedges has a threaded vertical opening 30 which receives thelower threaded end of its respective shaft 31, rotatably carried byopenings in the plate 32 which closes the top of the recess 28. Each ofthe shafts 31 is provided with an operating handle For the purpose ofchanging the angle in elevation between the two guns 1%, the plate 19 isprovided at its rear end with a segmental rack 31 with which is in mesha worm 35 fixed on a shaft 36 carried by ears 37 extending rearwardlyfrom the movable part 12. The shaft 36 has an operating handle 38. Thenumeral 39 designates an elevating rack carried by the fixed part 11 andwith this rack the gear of the usual elevating mechanism is adapted tomesh, the elevating mechanism not being shown in the presentillustrative disclosure, as the construction thereof is old and wellknown.

For the purpose of preventing the parts 11 and 12 of the slide fromsagging where they are connected to the plate 19, a curved plate 40 issecured to the segment 39 and this plate rides upon a bed of rollers 41carried by a bracket or brace 42 extending between the cheeks 10 of thecarriage or other part thereof.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that the lateral anglebetween the two guns 14: carried by the parts 11 and 12 of the slide maybe increased by moving the bearing block 27 rearwardly, this beingaccomplished by rotating the rearmost shaft 31 in a direction to raisethe rear wedge 29 and rotating the foremost shaft 31 to move the frontwedge 2i downwardly. To decrease the angle in train between the guns,the front wedge 29 is raised and the rear one lowered. \Vhen the block27 is so moved, the plate 19 will swing about the pintles 21 while thefixed part 11 of the slide will remain in position. Sufficient clearanceis provided for between the trunnion 26 and the bearing in the block 27to permit this block to be adjusted as just described.

To vary the angle in elevation between the guns, the operating handle 38is rotated to actuate the worm 35 whereupon the worm will ride upwardlyor downwardly on the segment 34: depending upon the direction ofrotation of the worm. It is understood that as the worm 35 is carried bythe movable part 12 these two members will move in unison.

It is, of course, understood that in actual practice the change inangular relation, both in train and in elevation, of the two guns willbe very slight, as an angle of a very small fraction of a degree willcause the projectiles fired from the guns to strike at an appreciabledistance apart. In the draw ings, however, the illustration is somewhatexaggerated so as to more clearly bring out the novel features and theoperation of the improved structure.

By setting the movable gun at a slight vertical angle (a fraction of adegree) above or below the axis of the fixed gun, which is preferablyboresighted, the danger space, which is considered as including theunder run of the projectiles and their ricochets, would be increasedseveral hundred yards. By slightly changing the relation between thetrain of the two guns and properly setting the time fuses of theshrapnel shells, when the latter are used, the cones of dispersion ofthe fragments and balls of the exploding shrapnel slightly overlap eachother for any given time of flight thus making a screen of explodingshrapnel sweep a zone about the ship from which the gun is fired andmaking it almost impossible for an attacking craft to pass through thisZone without being hit.

\Vhat is claimed is:

1. In a gun mount, a carriage having a two part gun slide, a pair ofguns mounted in said gun slide, and means associated with the two partsof the slide permitting relative movement in elevation of said guns.

2. In a gun mount, a carriage having a two part gun slide, a pair ofguns mounted in said gun slide, and means associated with said gun slidepermitting relative movement of said guns in train.

3. In a gun mount, a carriage having a two part gun slide, a pair ofguns mounted in said gun slide, and means associated with said gun slidepermitting relative movement of said guns in train and elevation.

4. In a gun mount, a carriage having a pair of cheeks each provided witha bearing, a two part gun slide trunnioned in said bearings, a pair ofguns carried by said slide, and means associated with the two parts ofthe slide permitting relative adjustment in train between said guns.

5. In a gun mount, a carriage having a pair of cheeks each provided witha bearing, a two-part gun slide trunnioned in said bearings, and meansfor connecting the two parts of the slide permitting relative adjustment in elevation therebetween.

6. in a gun mount, a carriage having a pair of checks provided withbearings, a two part gun slide, each part of said slide having on itsouter face a trunnion positioned in its respective bearings of saidcheeks, a bearing carried-on the inner face of one part of the slide, atrunnion on the inner face of the other part of the slide and mounted insaid last mentioned bearing, and means for changing the angle of onepart of said slide relative to the other part.

7. In a gun mount, a carriage having a pair of cheeks, a two-part gunslide each part of which has a trunnion positioned in its respectivebearing on said cheeks, and a member pivoted on one of said parts of theslide, the other part of said slide being rotatably connected to saidmember.

8. In a gun mount, a carriage having a pair of cheeks, a twopart gunslide, each part of which has a trunnion positioned in its respectivebearing in said cheeks, a member pivoted on a vertical axis on the innerface of one part of said slide and a bearing and trunnion between theother part of said slide and said member.

9. In a gun mount, a carriage having a pair of cheeks, a two-part gunslide trunnioned in said cheeks and a connection between the parts ofsaid slide permitting relative movement in elevation and in traintherebetween.

10. In a gun mount, a carriage having a pair of cheeks provided withbearings, a two-part gun slide trunnioned in the bearings of said cheeksand a member between the parts of said slide and pivoted to one part ona vertical axis and having a bearing, the other part of said slidehaving a trunnion positioned in said bearing.

11. In a gun mount, a carriage having a pair of cheeks each providedwith a bearing, a two-part gun slide trunnioned in said bearings, abearing plate between said parts of the slide and pivoted on a verticalaxis to one of them, said bearing plate having a bearing in substantialalinement with the bearings of said cheeks, and a trunnion on the otherpart of the slide positioned in said bearing.

12. In a gun mount, a carriage having a pair of checks each providedwith a bear ing, a two-part gun slide trunnioned in said bearings, amember between said parts of the slide and pivoted on a vertical axis toone of them and having a bearing, a trunnion carried by the other partof the slide and positioned in said bearing of said member, means foradjusting the bearing of one of the cheeks of the carriage, and meansfor changing the elevation of one part of the slide relative to theother part.

13. In a gun mount, a carriage having a pair of cheeks each providedwith a bearing and one of said bearings being adjustable, a two-part gunslide trunnioned in said bearings, a bearing plate between the parts ofthe slide and pivoted on a vertical axis to one of them, a trunnioncarried by the other gun slide and mounted in the bearing of said plate,and means between said bearing plate and the last mentioned part of theslide for changing the relative angle in elevation between the parts ofthe slide.

14. In a gun mount, a carriage having a pair of cheeks each providedwith a bearing and one of which bearings is adjustable, a two-part gunslide trunnioned in said bearings, a plate between said parts of theslide provided with a bearing and pivoted on a vertical axis to one ofthem, the other part of said gun slide having a trunnion engaging in thebearing of said plate, a segmental rack on said plate, and a wormcarried by said last mentioned part of the gun slide.

15. In a gun mount, a carriage having a pair of cheeks, a fixed bearingin one of said cheeks, an adjustable wedge shaped bearing block carriedby the other cheek, a pair of wedges for adjusting said bearing block, atwo-part gun slide trunnioned in said bearings, and means for connectingthe two parts of the slide and permitting relative adjustment inelevation and train therebetween.

16. In a gun mount, a carriage having a pair of cheeks each providedwith a hearing, a two part gun slide trunnioned in said bearings, meansfor connecting the two parts of the slide and permitting relativeadjustment in elevation therebetween, and a support carried by the slideadjacent the connection between the parts thereof and being adapted toslide on a part of said carriage for preventing the slide from saggingat its center.

17. In a gun mount, a carriage having a pair of cheeks each providedwith a bearing, a two part g'un slide trunnioned in said bearings, apair of guns carried by said slide, and me n s oci ted with the twoparts of the slide for permitting relative adjustment in elevationbetween said guns.

18. In a gun mount, a carriage having a pair of cheeks each providedwith a bearing, a two part gun slide trunnioned in said bea rings, apair of guns carried by said slide, and means associated with the twoparts of the slide for permitting relative adjustment in elevation andtrain between said guns.

1%). In a gun mount, a carriage having a pair of cheeks, each providedwith a hearing, a two part gun slide trunnioned in said bearings, a pairof guns carried by said gun slide, means for simultaneously varying theangle in elevation of said guns, and means associated with the two partsof the slide for varying the elevation of one gun relative to the other.

20. In a gun mount, a carriage having a pair of cheeks, each providedwith a bearing, a two part gun slide trunnioned in said bearings, a pairof guns carried by said gun slide, means associated with the two partsof the slide for varying the elevation of one gun relative to the other.

21. In a gun mount, a carriage having a pair of cheeks, each providedwith a bearing, a two part gun slide trunnioned in said bearings, a pairof guns carried by said gun slide, means associated with the two partsof the slide for varying the elevation and train of one gun relative tothe other.

DORA K. MUIR, A(Zmiaist'ratrim 07' Edwm'cl A. Muir, da-

ceased.

